Chapter 25
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: Monster Tale Specialist Office: Child of the Centipede (5)
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At first, Han Seol didn't think much of her sister not coming back.
Her sister often left without telling her, stepping out for a bit. It had happened plenty of times before.
Living in the mountains with just the two of them was busier than one might think. They'd fetch water themselves, forage for wild greens or edible mushrooms, snap or chop decent pieces of firewood. Sometimes they'd even hunt some meat.
If they stopped working even for a moment, they'd run short on something by the next day.
With so much to do, it wasn't feasible to announce every little thing.
That's why she didn't realize right away that something was off.
"Out gathering stuff? She'll be back when it's time."
In fact, at first, it was a bit nice. For Han Seol, who never had time alone, these moments were often quite enjoyable.
"Hehe, days like this are nice too."
Plus, when her sister wasn't around, she could slack off on her studies.
There was no school where Han Seol lived. No other people. Her teachers were only herself, nature, and her sister.
She said that, but in truth, she learned more from her sister than anything else.
Her sister was a strict teacher when it came to lessons. Always emphasizing studying by night lamp, she'd make her read books late or do other studies.
So today, without her sister, she could take it easy.
Working by day and studying after sunset was routine for Han Seol, but it was always tiring too.
"Man, how did Sis learn all that stuff?"
With her sister gone, Han Seol grumbled a little to herself.
About a third of it was complaints, but the other two-thirds was admiration and affection.
If there was something she didn't know, her sister explained it right away. She always described in detail what was out there in the world.
Sometimes Han Seol wondered about the outside. But she'd never thought of going alone.
"Sis is kinda late..."
Waiting turned out to be more boring than expected. She figured her sister would return soon, but even as the sun began to set, she didn't.
Han Seol started getting worried bit by bit. No matter how familiar the terrain, the mountains at night were dangerous. Something her sister always stressed.
"No note left behind."
It wasn't like there'd never been days when her sister didn't return by evening.
Sometimes, her sister would head out entirely, fetching things unavailable in the mountains, and come back.
When she went out, it was usually a day, maybe two at most, just like now.
But whenever that happened, her sister would leave a note saying when she'd return and why she was going.
She never just left without a word like this.
"Maybe she just forgot this once."
Thinking that, Han Seol went to bed alone. There was work to do tomorrow morning. Staying up waiting might just get her scolded by her sister.
But the next morning, when she woke, her sister still hadn't returned.
She'd fetched water, gathered plenty of firewood. Food was sufficient. She'd even finished cleaning.
Still, no sister.
The sun passed its zenith, night approached again, and still no sign.
"What if something happened?"
Han Seol began to worry for real.
She wanted to believe nothing could happen to her sister, but there was something her sister had repeated endlessly.
"The mountains at night are dangerous..."
Maybe she'd come back tomorrow. Maybe things outside took longer than expected.
So Han Seol decided to wait one more day.
She felt wrong slacking off entirely, so she opened a book, but with her mind uneasy, nothing sank in.
In the end, she went to bed without studying again. Yesterday it had felt great, but today it was anxious.
"She'll come tomorrow. Definitely."
Saying it out loud made it feel real. A bit more at ease, Han Seol fell asleep.
But the next morning, still no sister.
"Something definitely happened."
Maybe she hadn't gone out at all from the start.
Or maybe she'd gone out but got hurt on the way back.
If so, she had to go look. She knew most of the mountain's layout.
Han Seol circled everywhere she'd ever been. She double-checked all familiar spots carefully.
She even inspected places where one might fall or get stuck.
But her sister was nowhere.
"Where could she have gone...?"
If she wasn't in any of the places she'd checked, there was only one option left.
She had to head to the places she hadn't been.
"Outside..."
A place she'd never gone before.
The outside was unknown territory for Han Seol. A path only her sister had taken.
Slowly, cautiously, Han Seol set off down the unfamiliar path. Her heart raced.
She was worried. What if her sister was collapsed somewhere along here?
Like that time as a kid when she'd gotten lost, twisted her ankle and couldn't move—maybe her sister was in the same spot.
"Sis, you're not hurt, right?"
Han Seol muttered anxiously to herself. This path was rougher than her usual ones.
"How does Sis come and go on paths like this?"
Part of it was unfamiliarity, but even so, the path itself was harsher than normal. If her sister had collapsed here, she'd been out too long already.
So she couldn't turn back just because night was falling.
Tonight was a full moon, after all. Brighter than other nights. With that light, she could navigate an unknown path if careful.
With that reasoning, Han Seol started walking deeper into the mountains. But as true night fell, she began to regret it a little.
Bird calls that echoed occasionally by evening were silent now. Only the rustle of her own footsteps.
"Sis!"
She shouted loudly. No reply.
Honestly, it was a bit scary. It wasn't her first time in the mountains at night, but those were quick trips on known paths.
Not trudging endlessly on unknown ones like now.
Still, the full moon let her see enough to keep going.
And then Han Seol encountered what she never should have.
* * *
"I heard a weird noise. Like bones snapping, or something slithering creepily. I couldn't tell what it was, but it gave me chills."
The moment she heard it, Han Seol said she ran without looking back.
"No one who's never heard it would understand. That chilling sound... I really thought I was gonna die."
And so, running endlessly, she happened to run into the Director.
"That's everything that's happened to me."
"It's a story where I don't even know where to start asking."
As Woli said, Han Seol's tale was utterly bewildering.
"For starters, where she lived is incredibly unusual. No need to mention the events."
Han Seol, who looked about Woli's age, seemed to have lived cut off from school and what people call the 'mundane world.' If not for the Director, no one would have saved her.
"So you'd never gone outside with your sister before that?"
At Taeju's question, Han Seol nodded vigorously.
"Yes! She said I could go when I became an adult."
Taeju and Woli each pondered the story. As silence stretched, Han Seol glanced around, like she wanted to say something. Woli noticed first and asked.
"Got something else to say?"
"Um, I heard you folks can help, but... how much can I ask for?"
"How much?"
Taeju echoed.
"I mean, if I ask too much, I might be a burden."
Woli shook her head at Han Seol's words.
"This place exists for requests like that. If you need something, just ask us!"
"But I have nothing to give. My sister said big requests need equal payment."
Taeju chuckled at that.
Give to receive, receive to give.
Not wrong, but not for emergencies like this.
"Well, your sister's not entirely off, but we're people who help when stuff like this happens. We don't ask for what you can't give, so don't worry and speak up."
Even with Taeju's explanation, Han Seol hesitated. Woli, impatient, spoke up.
"Just ask already. Whatever your sister is like, it might be dangerous."
"You're right..."
After a moment's hesitation, Han Seol nodded, as if resolving something.
"I've decided. Please tell me what happened to my sister. And if she's in danger, save her."
Finally, Han Seol's request was set. But it still omitted saving herself.
"What about you?"
"Huh? I'm already out. Feels shameless just taking help, but please."
"Well, we planned to help you anyway, so no issue."
Taeju nodded. At least she was worth helping.
"But do you know what was chasing you?"
"Chasing me?"
She'd run without looking back, she said. Without describing what.
She'd escaped unscathed except for exhaustion, so right choice in the end. But investigating now without clues felt daunting.
On a hunch, Taeju asked. Even one hint would make things easier.
"I-I kind of saw it... Just glanced back once. Made eye contact."
Good news for Taeju, but recounting it seemed painful for Han Seol.
"It was... it was..."
"It's okay. Safe here, so take your time."
"It was... a ridiculously huge centipede."
"A centipede?"
Taeju repeated.
"Really, really huge. Like the size of a house."
A giant centipede—only one thing came to mind.
"A giant centipede..."